CINCINNATI - Justin Jackson (Cocoa Beach, Fla./Arlington Country Day) did a little bit of everything, helping lead the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team to a 65-57 win over SMU in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams, Wednesday inside Fifth Third Arena.

Jackson scored a game-high 17 points, hit a career-best seven free throws, grabbed six rebounds, tied his season high with five blocks, a career-high five steals and went diving over two rows of courtside seats chasing a loose ball.

"He did everything but take tickets and babysit my daughter tonight," Head Coach Mick Cronin said after the game.

The Bearcats (12-2, 1-0 American) ran their winning streak to five games, moved their record to 21-3 all-time in league lid-lifters since 1990 and 6-0 in their first league game of a new conference. UC has won 13-straight at Fifth Third Arena, dating back to a 61-56 win over UConn on March 2, 2013.

SMU (10-3, 0-1 American) was held to 57 points, its second-lowest scoring output of the season. The Mustangs were the 21st straight UC opponent to be held under 70 points, the nation's longest active streak.

UC held a decided advantage in free throws, getting to the line 31 times compared to nine for the visitors. UC hit 23 of 31 from the charity stripe and outscored SMU 20-12 inside the paint in the second half. The Bearcats were disruptive, forcing 17 turnovers, converting them into 16 points and grabbing double-digit steals for the fifth time this season (11).

The Mustangs hit their first shot out of the halftime break, bringing the margin down to two, 34-32, with 19:33 remaining in the game, the closest they would get for the remainder of the night. UC led by as many as 11, holding SMU to a 2-for-11 shooting effort in the final 4:11 on the way to the win.

UC held a 32-30 halftime advantage after trailing by as many as eight in the first stanza.

SMU led by as many as eight, 20-12, with 7:16 remaining in the period. From there, UC ran off a 15-2 run over the next four-plus minutes, moving out to a five-point advantage, 29-24, with 2:01 to go. UC closed the half hitting five of its last 10 shots after starting 3-for-16 from the floor.

UC is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 4, hitting the road to take on Memphis in the FEDEX Forum at noon ET in a game televised on ESPN2. The Bearcats close out a two-game road swing in Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 7, taking on the Cougars in Hofheinz Pavilion. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET and the game will air on the CBS Sports Network.